 January 10, 2025 (Friday): Albert Lee  click
for details
One of the most respected and renowned guitarists in music history, Albert Lee has worked with The Everly Brothers, Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris and The Crickets over his long and illustrious career.
The British-born country-rock artist started his career during the emerging rock 'n' roll scene of sixties London, when he swapped bands with the likes of Jimmy Page and Chris Farlowe. After moving to the U.S. and assimilating himself into the country music scene, Albert quickly garnered a reputation as one of the fastest guitar players in the business. He recorded a number of solo albums, and won a Grammy in 2002 for his contribution on 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown'. He continues to tour today, and plays his signature Ernie Ball Music Man Guitar.
First time to our stage.
January 17, 2025 (Friday): Dervish click
for details
I can’t wait to see this band. Irish traditional ensemble, Dervish, has performed together more than 30 years. From the band’s humble beginnings in the low-slung pubs of County Sligo to sold-out audiences in South America, Asia, and across the United States, the group has garnered accolades abroad and at home. In 2019, the band received a lifetime achievement award from the BBC. And well deserved.
Just what we need for a winter night. Click to get to know them.
January 18, 2025 (Saturday): Quinn Sullivan click
for details
Young blues wiz Quinn Sullivan is all the buzz... a compelling blend of rich vocals and masterful guitar work, bridging the past and present with a vintage sound reminiscent of ’60s and ’70s rock. 24-year-old blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter from New Bedford, Massachusetts, known for his soulful vocals, impressive guitar skills, and energetic live performances we are excited to have him for tyhe first time as his career soars. Here with a killer band…don't miss his SMAC debut! Check him out!
January 25, 2025 (Saturday): The Suitcase Junket click
for details
The first time Suitcase was here some lucky folks saw him as part of our free music series. That was the first time he blew everyone away. Since then performs to a packed house and does the same. I just love this guy. Totally original and totally a giver when it some to his audience. You feel like part of his journey. One man band, doesn't do this artist justice. Suitcase is an Artist, tinkerer, tunesmith, swamp Yankee. Matt Lorenz is a one-man salvage specialist singing into the hollow of a Dumpster guitar, slipping a broken bottleneck onto the slide finger, railing on a box of twisted forks and bones, rocking till every sound is ragged at its edges, till the house is singing back. Then, unplugging all the amps and letting one mountain ballad soar over the raw strings on that guitar. Every night is a hard-driving, blues-grinding, throat-singing search-and-rescue junket. Sooner or later everything rusts, busts, and gets tossed into the junk heap: iron, bones, leather, hot rods, muskrats, the night, the heart. The goal is to recover it. To waste nothing. To create new ways from old. This is The Suitcase Junket. A Big Staff Favorite for a reason!!!
January 31, 2025 (Friday): Travelin' McCourys click
for details
The McCoury brothers- Ronnie (mandolin) and Rob (banjo) - were born into the bluegrass tradition. Talk about a source abundant and pure: their father, Del, is among the most influential and successful musicians in the history of the genre. Years on the road with Dad in the Del McCoury Band honed their knife-edge chops, and encouraged the duo to imagine how traditional bluegrass could cut innovative pathways into 21st century music.“If you put your mind, your skills, and your ability to it, I think you can make just about anything work on bluegrass instruments,” says Ronnie. “That’s a really fun part of this- figuring the new stuff out and surprising the audience.”
With fiddler Jason Carter, bassist Alan Bartram, and latest recruit Cody Kilby on guitar, they assembled a group that could take what they had in their DNA, take what traditions they learned and heard, and push the music forward. In fact, the band became the only group to have each of its members recognized with an International Bluegrass Music Association Award for their instrument at least once.
There were peers, too, that could see bluegrass as both historic and progressive. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Allman Brothers Band, improv-rock kings Phish, and jamband contemporary Keller Williams were just a few that formed a mutual admiration society with the ensemble.
There were unforgettable collaborations with country smash Dierks Bentley, and onstage magic, jamming with titans String Cheese Incident and Phish, cutting an album with Keller (Pick), and creating the Grateful Ball- a tribute concert-turned-tour bridging bluegrass with the iconic music of the Grateful Dead.
"We can’t be another version of our dad’s band. It wouldn’t make any sense for us to do that.” Their concerts became can’t-miss events, whether headlining historic venues or as festival favorites, drawing the love and respect of a growing fanbase craving their eclectic repertoire. At the 2016 edition of DelFest, an annual gathering of the genre’s best aptly named for the McCoury patriarch, the band delivered the take-away highlight. Rolling Stone called it “a sublime combination of rock and bluegrass, contemporary and classic, old and young.
“We’ve tried to pick songs we think people are going to enjoy,” says Ronnie. “Something we learned from our dad is that a good song is a good song. It can be done in any way.”
Their Grammy winning self-titled debut album from the quintet is a brilliantly executed set overflowing with inventive style, stellar musicianship, and, of course, plenty of burnin’ grass, the 14-song collection is a true culmination of their decades-long journey. From the headwaters of Bill Monroe and the waves of Jerry Garcia to a sound both rooted and revolutionary, soulful and transcending that belongs only to the Travelin’ McCourys. “The album definitely shows what we’ve evolved into as a band. And, it’s a pretty good representation of what’s happening with the whole genre,” says Rob. “The old bluegrass material is something I love but it’s been done many times. We’re forging ahead with our own sound. That’s what you have to do to make it all work.”
And make it work here!! We can’t wait!
February 1, 2025 (Saturday): The Clements Brothers click
for details
with special guests The DellaValla Trio
What a great night of homegrown talent!
The Clements Brothers are George and Charles Clements. We have referred the them as New England’s Simon and Garfunklel.They’ve been playing and writing music together for as long as they can remember and ‘The Clements Brothers’ marks their first project together since playing in the internationally touring grass-roots band, ‘The Lonely Heartstring Band’ with whom they put out two albums on Rounder Records. With roots, rock, bluegrass, jazz, and classical influences, George (on guitar) and Charles (on bass) aim to capture their singer-songwriter sensibilities in a unique blended voice, at once enthralling and intimate, groovy and serene. They are joined by drummer Mike Harmon, who joined the band after an impromptu late night set at the Ossipee Music festival, and adds his unique roots-conscious musicality to the group's evolving sound. The trio is a fusion of each member's unique musical journey, and the result is music all its own, filled with vocal harmonies, instrumental virtuosity, and a genuine love of song. We just love’m..you will too!
The DellaValla Trio is made up of three fine young people….siblings Molly (18, guitar), Joseph (16, banjo) and John (13, fiddle) They have been cutting their teeth playing in and around our Mount Washington Valley and most recently making a name for themeselves as a top notch bluegrass act. They are known mostly as a bluegrass trio, but their talents thrust them into other genres as well. They love to play music, as this family affair and we are happy to have them here for the first time on our stage.
February 7, 2025 (Friday): Harry Manx click
for details
Like the song says....."Im just wild about Harry!!"..and you will be too!
It takes begging and pleading to get Harry to come to the States these days. I did and he is!! What can I say about Harry....we have had him here many times....for a reason. Canadian artist (artist in every sense of the word) Harry Manx known as the "Mysticssippi" blues man has been called an "essential link" between the music of East and West, creating musical short stories that wed the tradition of the Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas. I mean, who else would play a banjo, guitar and sitar, and keeps the beat with his feet. Oh, and great songs too. There is no one like him. He has created a unique sound that is hard to forget and deliciously addictive to listen to. We are obviously hooked on Harry too. As we said, his U.S. appearances can be a rare sighting, so we are so happy and lucky he is back!
February 8, 2025 (Saturday): Cécilia click
for details
Erin Leahy, Timi Turmel, and Louis Schryer ... Canada's finest
We are very excited about this show..Erin was here with her brother Donnell Leahy and Natalie MacMaster, (Canadina royalty) a while back and she was outstanding, as are Timi and Louis. Traditional music that causes a wonderful stir and fills to overflowing every venue – that is Cécilia! Widely recognized as three of Canada's finest musicians, it is a pleasure to see how much enjoyment Timi Turmel, Erin Leahy, and Louis Schryer find in playing together. While honoring their heritage as Cécilia, their music making has an undeniably fresh and high-spirited sound.
They bring the best of many musical worlds together in their explorations of traditional, Celtic and Quebecois music. Every one of their pieces is skillfully arranged and highlighted with influences from contemporary, classical, jazz and swing styles. Cécilia's recent debut album Accent is an impressive offering full of vibrant rhythms and melodies, all resonating with a unique warmth and richness of expression.
Each performance by Cécilia is a call to come out and share – not only in the joy of three dedicated musicians making music together but also in creating with Timi, Erin, and Louis a unique and memorable musical experience. You'll find yourself with a smile that lasts long after the final notes of Cécilia's accordion, piano, and violin have melted away.
February 14, 2025 (Friday): On A Winter's Night on Valentine's Day details
Reunion Tour 2025 Featuring
John Gorka, Patty Larkin, Lucy Kaplansky, and Cliff Eberhardt
Presenting the Reunion Tour of “On A Winter’s Night” from veteran singer-songwriters that remain among the brightest stars of the singer/songwriter movement for the past three decades. In 1994 musicians gathered together, to showcase music of the Winter Season on the now-classic On A Winter’s Night CD, followed by several years of touring collaborations. As soloists, these artists have released dozens of recordings and toured steadily through the decades, with fond memories of their touring days together. The winter season is again celebrated by these unique and popular performers, back together by popular demand. AND FOR VALENTINE'S DAY!!!
Grab someone you love and come on out for a Winter’s Eve of voice and song.
February 15, 2025 (Saturday): Love in the Country click
for details
A Country Love Song Swap
with The Gibson Brothers, Carol Noonan and Kevin Barry
Join us for a night of song swapping between these good friends, bluegrass greats Eric and Leigh Gibson along side singer songwriter Carol Noonan (our fearless leader) and guitarist Kevin Barry. On stage together, these fine musicians will pull out some of their best country love songs of their own and some classics while backing up each other for some great spontaneous musical moments and banter.
February 21, 2025 (Friday): Haggard and Cashed click for details
A Big Country Band featuring Erica Brown and Matt Shipman
“The ultimate classic country band”…. Haggard and Cashed is a 7 piece, triple fiddle wielding, honky tonkin’, country and western swing band featuring some of the finest musicians in New England.The band is led by renowned singer and fiddler Erica Brown and her husband, notable multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Matt Shipman. They have been taking stages by storm around Maine for the last year.The band is comprised of incredible, veteran musicians Ellen Carlson (fiddle, vocals), Steve Muise (fiddle), Dan Beller-McKenna (pedal steel guitar), Kris Day (bass, vocals) and Per Hanson (drums, harmonica, vocals). When you put all seven of these musicians on one stage, it’s not short of magic! Their energy is infectious and their love for this music shines through.This group will have you singing along to classic country and western swing favorites you may have forgotten you loved so much. Playing favorites from Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Ray Price, Pasty Cline, Asleep at the Wheel, The Time Jumpers, Dwight Yoakam, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Dale Watson and even a few originals. Dust off your cowboy hat and your cowboy boots and get ready for some triple fiddle harmony and good old fashioned twang!
February 22, 2025 (Saturday): The Early Evening Show click
for details
featuring Mike Miclon
The Early Evening Show, Mike Miclon's spoof of a Late-Night talk-show, is an epic evening of hilarious comedy, incredible music, and wild improvisations. Mike as we all know is thoroughly entertaining as is his cast of characters. The Early Evening Show, created in Buckfield Maine's Oddfellow Theater in 1998, is the longest-running live variety show in Maine! The Bangor Daily News called the show "a seamless, hilarious production" and CBS Sunday Morning called it "must see reality". The show comes complete with a band, guest interviews, improv commercials and big finales and guest spots from equally zany friends like the infamous Fritz Grobe!! The Oddfellow Theater is now quiet, where the show originated, but the spirit is the same and my how the show has grown. Here is an old CBS spot about the old theater and how the show originated. Fast forward to many years later, Mike tours this show any chance he gets…and we are happy to have him bring his crazy world here to SMAC. You also may recognize him as that zany comedian who hosts our wine dinners….Oh Behave Nigel!
February 28, 2025 (Friday): Chris Trapper and Spencer Albee details
with Zack Bence
GREAT CO-BILL of SONGWRITERS
Spencer Albee will be joined by the multi-talented Zack Bence.
The duo will play through songs from Spencer's new retrospective release TIME MACHINE 2024-2000, as well as songs from his forthcoming full length record on Wurlitzer, baritone guitar, guitar, keyboards, ukulele and sampler. Spencer is a internationally acclaimed producer, songwriter, performer and creator. Since 1995, he has signed multiple major recording and publishing agreements and has variously recorded and toured with artists such as David Bowie, Amy Allen, Josh Homme, De La Soul, Steel Pulse, The Ghost Of Paul Revere and Tony Visconti .. A great Co-Bill!
Chris Trapper is a storyteller. With his soulful, honeyed tenor, sly humor and an uncanny knack for melody, Chris has traveled the world over, performing to a dedicated and ever growing fan base with nothing but his guitar and his songs. Raised on Prine and Kristofferson, Trapper's first foray in the music industry was as frontman of the critically acclaimed alt-rock band The Push Stars (Capitol Records). Over the past decade, Chris has become a modern day acoustic troubadour, performing over 150 dates a year as a headliner and sharing the stage with the likes of Rob Thomas, Pat Benatar and even John Prine himself.
"...pure pop perfection." -New York Times
"A brilliantly gifted songwriter." -The Huffington Post
March 1, 2025 (Saturday): Kat Edmonson click
for details
Kat is Back!!!
We just love her..her music, her stories, her joyful presence. And if you haven't seen her well JUST DO IT!!!
The first time I saw Kat was on CBS Saturday morning ("Saturday Sessions" is a great program that showcases rising stars.....highly recommend it). She is known most as a jazz singer, but she calls her music vintage pop. Whatever you call it, it is completely pure. She has shared stages with the likes of Lyle Lovett, Asleep at the Wheel, and Chris Isaac with appearances on Prairie Home Companion and E Town. When I heard her, there was something about her that reminded me of hearing Joni Mitchell when I was a kid.. She doesn't sound like her, or the music isn't the similar, but the command of her craft and her band reminds me of Joni. A terrific song writer with the sounds of a jazz singer, but the feel of a vintage folk singer. Oh, and she is an actress too!
Speaking of jazz, check out this video of one of the many sides of her.
But this is the sweet song that stopped me in my tracks when I heard it.
And these are just samples of her live...take some time and get lost in some of her videos on YouTube. Like her songs, they are like mini vintage movies harkening back to a time when ceramic dogs and typewriters were the norm. (for some of us,it still is :>) There are so many great videos of her....too many to pick, so again, spend a few minutes and discover this amazing talent. Seems like everyone in the critical world knows about her.....now its your turn.
Comes Very Very Highly SMAC Recommended
March 8, 2025 (Saturday): Ward Hayden and the Outliers details
(formerly of Girls, Guns, and Glory)
We love that you can get two sides of this great band…one is rockin' and one is just pure roots. If Chris Isaac, Buddy Holly and Buck Owens started a band, it might sound like these guys! The twangy country rock and roll sounds of this fun band, is fronted by SMAC favorite and crooner Ward Hayden (we love him!) A smooth, authentic honky tonk/early rock & roll vibe with some country-folk thrown in there too...it is hard to peg these guys....but that's a good thing! An eclectic blend of musical styles that's reminiscent of Johnny Cash one minute, CCR the next, the all-male quintet mixes catchy melodies with cowboy vocals and creative percussion, hurling grit (sometimes grits) and heart into every tune.
March 13, 2025 (Thursday): Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy details
The entertainment world is filled with extraordinary stories. But few match the beguiling true-life tale of Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, Canada’s reigning couple of Celtic music, whose dazzling career achievements underpin an incomparable off-stage life. Indeed, when two of the planet’s very best fiddle players married in 2002, the proverbial mantelpiece was instantly crammed with JUNO and East Coast Music Awards. Though MacMaster and Leahy followed different trajectories – she a Cape Breton native who could step-dance before she could walk; he the oldest brother of acclaimed family group Leahy – both had assuredly crested the traditional music peak. Their first recorded collaboration, 2015’s Bob Ezrin-produced album One, which was followed by 2016’s A Celtic Family Christmas (and which cemented the couple’s status as powerhouses on the seasonal circuit) confirmed MacMaster and Leahy are as dynamic working together as they were working apart. Performing thousands of shows and collaborating with a multitude of world renowned artists Natalie’s and Donnell’s family and work-life have been intertwined. Their values are equally as important in their life as music. They believe incorporating family into the performances and their music is the perfect way to maintain a healthy work-life balance. MacMaster and Leahy now have five beautiful children, and Natalie and Donnell devotion to them is job number one. On a personal note, I cannot describe the elation and emotion when this family performs together...love is not a big enough word. We LOVE them ... comes highly SMAC recommended.
March 29, 2025 (Saturday): Altan click for details
Wow, it’s been too long since we have seen these dear musical friends. With a career in Irish music for 35 years, Altan has achieved legendary status in a genre that has been equally shaped by the band's influence and genius. Audiences from Ireland to Japan to Australia to Europe have embraced their heartwarming, dynamic live performances and their exquisitely produced, award-winning recordings. Over a dozen releases to date, ranging from the most touching old Irish songs to hard-hitting reels and jigs. Chicago Weekly, said, "Thought by many to be the finest traditional Irish combo working today, Altan seamlessly blend dazzling instrumental prowess and the gorgeously delicate vocals of Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh" I would whole heartedly agree. They have not been here for many years and we have missed them. The real deal of Irish bands...don't miss their welcome return.
April 12, 2025 (Saturday): Lonesome Ace Stringband click
for details
Ya know we get more than our share of string band pitched to us these days. But with all the rebooting and reinventions of bluegrass and old timey music, every once in while something more pure comes through and I was so glad we hosted this band. EVERYONE loved them!
Case in point from from Canada , the Lonesome Ace Stringband is an old-time band with bluegrass chops that play some righteous folk and country music. There's a depth of groove and sense of space not often heard in bluegrass today, a level of instrumental interplay and vocal blend uncommon in old-time, and an on-stage rapport that transcends all of this. Click to listen to a sweet ballad on YouTube. But no worries they can S&@t kick it with the rest of them.
April 19, 2025 (Saturday): Alison Brown click
for details
Alison Brown“Like James Taylor’s voice or B.B. King’s guitar, Alison Brown’s banjo is an instrument possessed of a unique sonic signature and an inescapable beauty….an artist who never ceases to delight.”
—Billboard Magazine
One of the most multi-faceted minds in roots music, Alison Brown is a GRAMMY-winning musician, GRAMMY-nominated producer, former investment banker (with an AB from Harvard and an MBA from UCLA), and co-founder of The Compass Records Group which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023. Although Alison began her musical career as a teenager in the Southern California bluegrass scene, she has built a reputation as one of today’s most forward thinking and innovative banjo players. She is known for taking the instrument far beyond its Appalachian roots by blending bluegrass and jazz influences into a sonic tapestry that has earned praise and recognition from a variety of national tastemakers including The Wall Street Journal, CBS Sunday Morning, NPR, and USA Today. On her new release, aptly titled On Banjo, Alison continues her musical explorations on a set of original compositions that explore the range of the banjo. The album features an eclectic cast of collaborators including Steve Martin, Kronos Quartet, Sharon Isbin, Anat Cohen, Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan and members of the Alison Brown Quintet.
Alison is the recipient of the USA Artists Fellowship in Music and the Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association. In 2019, she was inducted into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame. Alison serves on the Board of Governors of the Recording Academy and as co-chair of the Steve Martin Banjo Prize.
“Banjo music is seldom thought of as ‘mellow’ or, dare we say ‘pretty,’ but Alison Brown makes it so in the jazz-classical-pop-folk-Latin mix of the Alison Brown Quartet. As a true ground-breaker, [she’s] opening up whole new vistas for an instrument once solely associated with pickin’ ‘n’ grinnin’.” —USA Today
So many accolades ... I hope we are deserved of her... for the third time on our stage. Check her out. Always with a great group of players.
April 30, 2025 (Wednesday): Lyle Lovett Acoustic Group details
A singer, composer and actor, Lyle Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a
career that spans 14 albums. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, the Texas-based musician
fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a convention-defying manner
that breaks down barriers. Whether touring as a 'Duo' or with his 'Acoustic Group' or his 'Large Band,' Lovett's live performances show not only the breadth of this Texas legend's deep talents, but also the diversity of his influences, making him one of the most compelling and captivating musicians in popular music.
Since his self-titled debut in 1986, Lyle Lovett has evolved into one of music's most vibrant and
iconic performers. Among his many accolades, besides the four Grammy Awards, he was given
the Americana Music Association's inaugural Trailblazer Award, and was named Texas State
Musician. His works, rich and eclectic, are some of the most beloved of any artist working today.
May 2, 2025 (Friday): Kris Delmhorst and Jeffrey Foucault click for details
Two great song-writers who happened to be married!
Kris Delmhorst is an American songwriter, singer, instrumentalist, and producer. Over more than 25 years as an independent artist, she has built a body of work characterized by a wide-ranging, genre-agnostic curiosity and constant collaboration. In addition to nine critically acclaimed studio albums, she’s written music for films and TV, produced albums for Session Americana and Jeremy Moses Curtis, contributed instrumentation and vocals to scores of other artists’ work, and performed thousands of shows across the US and Europe. Kris Delmhorst lives in western Massachusetts with her husband, the songwriter Jeffrey and their daughter.
Jeffrey Foucault In two decades on the road Jeffrey Foucault has become one of the most distinctive voices in American music, refining a sound instantly recognizable for its simplicity and emotional power. With a string of critically acclaimed studio albums – “Stark, literate songs that are as wide open as the landscape of his native Midwest” (The New Yorker), “Beat-up troubadour folk whittled to dolorous perfection” (Uncut), “Songwriting Brilliance,” (Irish Times) – he’s built a brick-and-mortar international touring career and a devoted following, one that includes luminaries like Van Dyke Parks, Greil Marcus, and Don Henley.
May 8, 2025 (Thursday): Valerie June details
Valerie June is a Grammy-nominated artist from Tennessee. She’s been hailed by the New York Times as one of America’s “most intriguing, fully formed new talents.” A musician, singer, songwriter, poet, illustrator, actor, certified yoga and mindfulness meditation instructor, and author, she honorably served as a Turnaround artist working with students for the President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities and continues serving through The Kennedy Center. She has recorded three critically acclaimed, best-selling solo albums and has also written songs for legendary artists such as Mavis Staples and The Blind Boys of Alabama. An Amazon #1 Best Seller in poetry, her first book, Maps for the Modern World is a collection of lyrical poems and original illustrations about cultivating community, awareness, and harmony with our surroundings as we move fearlessly toward our dreams. When she’s not touring, she splits her time between Tennessee and New York. She even earned praise from Bob Dylan, who named June one of the contemporary artists he'd been listening to…not too shabby!
May 10, 2025 (Saturday): Rickie Lee Jones click
for details
Rickie Lee Jones is an American musician, storyteller and two-time Grammy winner who has been inspiring pop culture for decades, beginning with her star-making self-titled debut, followed by the seminal Pirates. Named the “premiere song-stylist and songwriter of her generation” by The New Yorker, and “The Duchess of Coolsville” by Time magazine, Jones released her Grammy-nominated album Pieces of Treasure in 2023, a reunion with Russ Titelman, who produced her first two records. Jones’ celebrated memoir Last Chance Texaco was named Book of the Year by MOJO and a Best Book of the Year at Pitchfork and NPR. The Independent writes, “There has always been something defiant about Rickie Lee Jones . . . a voice from a dream, elusive yet familiar, transcendent, a messenger from another place.”
May 17, 2025 (Saturday): Stephen Kellogg click
for details
In deciding to book this artist, this singer songwriter, poet, writer, story teller, humorist, ted talker, and so much more, I found myslef anamored by not just his music, but his simple life commitements and philosophies. He is just instantly likable as a person, and then you hear his music, and you are hooked. He has had a really interesting journey and story thus far, and its impossible to slap up just a paragraph about this guy. So I wanted to include his bio here which he intimates is more reading than you might have bargained for. But Jesus…cant we slow down and read something more than ten characters on a screen? Yes we can..this is Stephan Kellogg...In his own words.
" I wish I’d known when I started out that the contents of an artist biography ends up being repeated many times in the years to come. It can be frustrating to be viewed through an outdated lens. But what’s to be done? The past, including old one-sheets, remains unshakable.
I know you’re a busy person and, chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re here for the updated Cliffs Notes. So I’ll tell you what I’m proud of having done over the last 20 years and you decide for yourself if any of the soundbites interest you.
I was born, raised and am currently residing in New England. I have four kids and married my high school sweetheart. I’ve written about them extensively on all my records. I also put out a book in 2020 called “Objects In The Mirror: Thoughts on a Perfect Life from an Imperfect Person.” It’s a collection of essays about what I’ve found to be the most important aspects of a life well-lived. For better or worse, my live show has morphed into one with a fair amount of comedy baked into the storytelling. I write what I believe to be true and I try to have a sense of humor about the stuff that hurts. My newest record is called Keep It Up, Kid and it comes out December 2, 2022. Side B is a suite of 5 interconnected songs that explore the journey from youth to middle-age. Side A is a note of solidarity to anyone looking for hope in hopeless situations. We are all alone in the world, but it’s nice to feel as though we are not.
There have been some flattering quotes over the years, but the largest publication to offer up a humdinger was Rolling Stone, who in 2019, said I was like, “John Prine fronting the Heartbreakers.” My grandfather taught me not to believe my own propaganda, but I still work hard to fulfill the promise of such heady praise.
In 2013, I delivered a Tedx Talk on job satisfaction and that has led to speaking engagements for some amazing organizations. I’ve also had the honor of performing at a number of children’s hospitals as well as for the U.S military, who gave me an “Armed Forces Entertainer of the Year” award. Those experiences have been enriching and I hope I’ve used my talents for good there. I’ve had some great adventures co-writing too and one of the singles I co-wrote, “Got Soul,” was the title track for Robert Randolph’s Grammy Nominated album of the same title. Although I have, on occasion, cracked the billboard charts, it has been a minute since all that went down, so I’ll just say that there is little that means more to me than the people who show up year after year, record after record. Take care of the art and the art will take care of you.
In closing, I guess what I’m most proud of having done, the thing I’d want people to know about the first two decades of my career, is that I survived with my soul intact. I’ve played more than 2200 concerts, traveled Europe supporting Gregory Alan Isakov and Josh Ritter, sang duets with Adam Duritz and Rosanne Cash. I’ve sold out the 9:30 club, and performed at the Beacon Theater. I’ve made music in spite of the challenges and managed to build a life that resembles that of my listeners in all the ways that matter. I have not accomplished all that I intended for myself, but that’s why I’m playing another hand at the table. That’s the point of Keep It Up, Kid.
Thanks for checking out my stuff.
- Stephen Kellogg, April 2022
We are very excited to have another artist new to our stage .
If this bio didnt give you enough, watch this sweet video aboiut his family.
June 14, 2025 (Saturday): The Weight Band click for details
The Weight Band is led by guitarist and vocalist Jim Weider, a Woodstock, NY native who replaced Robbie Robertson in The Band. Weider later joined Band drummer Levon Helm in the Levon Helm Band. The Weight Band originated in 2013 inside the famed Woodstock barn of Levon Helm. Weider was inspired by Helm to carry on the musical legacy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group, “The Band”. On their current album, Shines Like Gold, The Weight Band presents a dynamic set of classic Americana that draws upon roadhouse rock, funky swamp pop, blues, country soul, and folk music.
Performances are composed of The Weight Band's original songs as well as fan favorites from
The Band’s catalog. Their sets also include songs from Grateful Dead. Allman Bros, Bob Dylan, and more!
Joining Weider in The Weight Band are keyboard player and vocalist Brian Mitchell, who helped anchor the Levon Helm Band, bassist Albert Rogers (Jim Weider Band, Jimmy Vivino), drummer Michael Bram (Jason Mraz) and keyboardist Matt Zeiner (Dickey Betts). The veteran quintet shares a deep appreciation and knowledge for this music, which Weider describes as the “Woodstock Sound.” The Weight Band continues to serve as its torchbearer, with Shines Like Gold representing a sublime example of these masterful roots musicians at work.
July 5, 2025 (Saturday): The Kruger Brothers click for details
Wow... we have been trying to get these guys here for a long time.
Kruger Brothers - Here melodies meet stories woven by the gifted brothers Jens and Uwe Kruger, alongside their musical partner Joel Landsberg. With a unique blend of bluegrass, folk, and classical influences, their music flows like a gentle river, guiding listeners on a journey through a rich tapestry of emotions.
Each note conveys a feeling, each melody holds a memory. Their songs speak of love, loss, and hope, touching the soul and uniting listeners in a shared experience.
The Kruger Brothers have received numerous awards and accolades for their exceptional talent and innovative approach to music.
Their artistry has been recognized worldwide, captivating audiences with both their technical prowess and emotional depth.
Explore their world, immerse yourself in their music and find out about upcoming concerts and shop offerings. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to their music, there's always something new to discover. Enjoy the music, feel the stories, and let the melodies guide you.
The Kruger Brothers look forward to welcoming you on their journey and we welcome them to our stage for the first time.
July 12, 2025 (Saturday): Heather Masse and Jed Wilson click
for details
Heather, one of the sirens from the Wailin' Jennys and a local girl before stardom, has performed at hundreds of venues across the world. As a regular on Prairie Home Companion, where she was one of Garrison's favorites, a national audience welcomed Heather whole heartedly as a solo artist. She just has such a beautiful voice and spirit, singing many styles from folk to jazz. Accompanied by pianist Jed Wilson, an accomplished performer and composer. Just a joy when these two come home together.
July 19, 2025 (Saturday): Steep Canyon Rangers click
for details
These guys are just super! They have shot to stardom with Steve Martin ...so happy for them! The Grammy winning Rangers are made up of Graham Sharp on banjo and vocals, Mike Guggino on mandolin/mandola and vocals, Nicky Sanders on fiddle and vocals, Mike Ashworth on drums and vocals, Barrett Smith on bass, guitar, and vocals, and Aaron Burdett. Hailing from North Carolina, and rising to the top since 2009, the Steep Canyon Rangers have received widespread acclaim. Garnishing a nice career jumpstart by acting as comedian Steve Martin's backing band, those tours led to many thousands of new and deserved fans. In 2012 the music community really tipped its hat to the quintet by presenting them with the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album, and thrust them into the "band to watch" race of up and coming bluegrass bands. Seems like they have won that race! But they are not just any bluegrass band. The Steep Canyon Rangers of course have a myriad of talents: instrumental agility, tight harmony vocals, integration of percussion, and one of the best stage shows we have seen. But it is their songwriting that really sets them apart from the pack. We welcome them back..and often!
A sure sell out..for good reason!
August 1, 2025 (Friday): Tom Rush - ONE SHOW ONLY click
for details
Accompanied by Matt Nakoa
Since Tom Rush's 1962 debut as an unknown folk-blues musician on the Boston/Cambridge music scene, he has established himself as a consummate performer and singer-songwriter. A few years back, a sold out celebration of his five-decade career anniversary at Boston Symphony Hall proves his fan loyalty and endurance. When you think of the importance of the folk scene in the 60's you should think of Tom. These days he is just as vital and entertaining. We welcome him back with a big hug!
August 8, 2025 (Friday): An Evening with Maine Authors click
for details
A Benefit for Camp Susan Curtis
Join the 9th Annual Evening with Maine Authors to benefit Camp Susan Curtis, a non-profit organization that provides a free 10-day overnight summer camp experience to Maine children facing economic hardship. The evening will begin with a cocktail hour followed by a delicious buffet dinner in the Maine Concert Hall. After dinner, a current CSC Staff Member will share reflections about their camp experience followed by the evening’s feature presentation of readings by award winning authors TBD.
For more information and tickets click here.
August 27, 2025 (Wednesday): Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder details
A life full of music. That's the story of Ricky Skaggs.
By age 21, he was already considered a "recognized master" one of America's most demanding art forms, but his career took him in other directions, catapulting him to popularity and success in the mainstream of country music. 2012 marks the 53rd year since Ricky struck his first chords on a mandolin, and this fourteen-time Grammy Award winner continues to do his part to lead the recent roots revival in music. With 12 consecutive Grammy-nominated classics behind him, all from his own Skaggs Family Records label, the diverse and masterful tones made by the gifted Skaggs come from a life dedicated to playing music that is both fed by the soul and felt by the heart. "This group of guys meets my approval every night," Ricky says. "Each and every one of the pickers in Kentucky Thunder totally amazes me in every show."The all-star lineup of Kentucky Thunder makes this show a bluegrass concert not to miss. ON a personal note, we really love Ricky and are so happy to have him grace our stage once again.
October 4, 2025 (Saturday): Darrell Scott click for details
Hey all you song writer lovers … this guy in my opinion is 100% exactly what a singer songwriter should be. Scott has collaborated with Steve Earle, Sam Bush, Emmylou Harris, John Cowan, Verlon Thompson, Guy Clark, Tim O'Brien, Kate Rusby, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Mary Gauthier, Dan Tyminski, and Brad Paisley recorded his song "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" on the finale of Justified ( a favorite SMAC show by the way!) Here is his version of this great song with some talented friends.
Gaining new fame by touring with Robert Plant and the Zac Brown Band (2 years with each), and producing albums for Malcolm Holcomb and Guy Clark and being named "songwriter of the year" for both ASCAP and NSAI, Darrel Scott has been one buys song writer. A multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter who mines and cultivates the everyday moment, taking the rote, menial, mundane, and allowing it to be surreal, ever poignant, and candidly honest, lilting, blooming, and resonating. The words he fosters allow us to make sense of the world, what is at stake here, and our place in it. And ultimately, Darrell knows the sole truth of life is that love is all that matters, that we don't always get it right, but that's the instinctive and requisite circuitous allure of things, why we forever chase it, and why it is held sacred.
These days find him roaming his Tennessee wilderness acreage hiking along the small river, creating delicious meals with food raised on his property and playing music. He often leads songwriting workshops to help people tell their own truths with their stories, and is as busy as always writing, producing, performing, and just plain fully immersing himself in life. For this night he will immerse himself up a country road . Happy to have him back.
October 10, 2025 (Friday): Tannahill Weavers click
for details
FROM SCOTLAND..we loved these guys!! Back to our stage!
"An especially eloquent mixture of the old and the new."
?- New York Times
Born of a session in Paisley, Scotland, and named for the town's historic weaving industry and local poet laureate Robert Tannahill, the Tannahill Weavers have made an international name for their special brand of Celtic music, blending the beauty of traditional melodies with the power of modern rhythms. As one of the world's premier traditional Celtic bands, their diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, original ballads and lullabies, and humorous tales of life in Scotland.
In 2021 they have been joined by exciting piper and fiddle player Iain MacGillivray, who is also Scotland's youngest Clan leader. Iain, a fluent Gaelic speaker, has worked on such exciting productions as Outlander and Men in Kilts, and has performed for a huge list of stars and dignitaries in recent years. As the band celebrate the nomination of their 18th recording, Òrach (“Golden” in Gaelic) as album of the year, and themselves as band of the year, they are firmly established as one of the premier groups on the concert stage. From reflective ballads to foot stomping reels and jigs, the variety and range of the material they perform is matched only by their enthusiasm and lively Celtic spirits. Take a minute to watch them.
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for checking out our schedule... Tickets are on sale Online or at the Arts Center Box Office. 